Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes a sheet stacking portion on which sheets are stacked in a storage unit; a lifting and lowering unit configured to move the sheet stacking portion between a first position and a second position above the first position; and a control unit configured to execute a first mode of waiting for start of feeding processing in a state in which the sheet stacking portion is at the first position and a second mode of waiting for start of the feeding processing in a state in which the sheet stacking portion is held at the second position by the lifting and lowering unit. The control unit executes the first mode when sheets of a first amount are stacked and execute the second mode when sheets of a second amount less than the first amount are stacked.

Abstract: A doctor blade (100), in particular for doctoring off printing ink from an impression cylinder, comprises a doctor blade body (110) with a working edge (130) and a first doctor blade side (122) which faces the impression cylinder, in particular, during operation, and a second doctor blade side (121) which faces away from the impression cylinder, in particular, during operation. The doctor blade body (110) is provided with a coating (150) which comprises a polymer, wherein the coating (150) comprises particles (160) at least in one part region. The particles (160) are configured as hard material particles (160), and a mass proportion of the hard material particles (160) in the coating (150) on the first doctor blade side (122) is higher than a mass proportion of the hard material particles (160) in the coating (150) on the second doctor blade side (121).

Abstract: A characteristic detector includes two electrodes facing each other to form a passage through which a medium passes, a cover disposed between the two electrodes, a current generator to supply a current between the two electrodes, a capacitance gauge to measure a capacitance generated between the two electrodes, and circuitry. The two electrodes have a shape or an arrangement in which at least two points on a leading end of the medium enter the passage with a time lag. The cover covers one of the two electrodes in connection with a size of the medium. The capacitance gauge detects the size of the medium based on the measured capacitance. The circuitry calculates a characteristic of the medium based on the capacitance measured by the capacitance gauge and the size of the medium detected by the capacitance gauge.

Abstract: An intermediate roller positioned between a fountain solution vapor supply and an imaging member decouples fountain solution vapor deposition from the surface of the imaging member. The intermediate roller may be temperature controlled. A uniform layer of fountain solution condenses onto the surface of the temperature controlled intermediate roller regardless of the imaging blanket temperature. The fountain solution condensate layer deposited onto the intermediate roller splits and deposits a thin uniform layer of fountain solution liquid onto the imaging member surface. This liquid layer split may be independent of the temperature of the imaging member surface, resulting in a uniform layer of fountain solution on the imaging blanket for better imaging quality. Remotely locating the vaporizing chamber away from the imaging member prevents undesired heat transfer from a hot vaporizing chamber/baffle to the imaging member surface.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a digital ink duct for a printing press, comprising an ink tank for storing ink, a main ink pipe that communicates with the ink tank, at least one metering-type ink delivery device, ink delivery pipes, a controller and a signal acquisition device. In the present invention, high-accuracy, metering-type ink delivery devices are arranged in a queue to form a digital ink duct which replaces the traditional ink duct and supplies ink for the ink zones. The present invention can perform accurate adjustment in real time, is high in automation and digitalization degree, and can realize one-way ink delivery and avoid ink return.

Abstract: An anti-stuck driving device comprises: a movable blade, a movable blade driving unit, and a controller. The movable blade driving unit comprises a transmission assembly, a motor configured to drive the transmission assembly, and a connecting element connected between the transmission assembly and the motor. The transmission assembly links the movable blade moving back and forth linearly. The controller connects to the motor. When the movable blade is stuck, the controller controls the motor to drive the connecting element to rotate in reverse to separate the transmission assembly and the connecting element, and release a resistance of the transmission assembly. The present invention also discloses a printer using the anti-stuck driving device with malfunction repairing.

Abstract: A method of enhancing adhesion of an image to at least one surface of a substrate is provided herein. The method includes treating at least a portion of the surface by applying a composition comprising one or more polymers to the portion of the surface. The method further includes drying the composition after applying the composition to the substrate to form a treated substrate. The method further includes printing an image from an electrophotographic printer utilizing liquid toner technology on the treated substrate. The substrate is treated and dried less than about 5 minutes prior to being printed.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including: a cleaning section including a cleaning member and configured to perform cleaning processing of a screen mask used in printing of a viscous fluid onto a print target; a cleaning member moving section configured to perform at least one of moving the cleaning member to and from a cleaning position and an exchange position, and unloading and loading of the cleaning member; and an exchange control section configured to control the cleaning member moving section to perform cleaning member exchange processing of exchanging the cleaning member.

Abstract: A detection unit includes a first contact member that comes into contact with a surface of a recording material and a second contact member that comes into contact with the other surface of the recording material, and the first contact member and the second contact member face each other and are capable of nipping the recording material. The first contact member and the second contact member are movable in a direction in which the first contact member and the second contact member nip the recording material. The first contact member and the second contact member are rotatable about an axial line that extends in a direction in which the recording material is conveyed.

Abstract: A keyboard device is provided with a base plate, a plurality of key tops, a membrane sheet, and a frame. The frame has a frame portion interposed between the key tops adjacent to each other and partitions each key top in a vertically movable state by the formation of a gap between the side surface of the frame portion and the side surface of the key top. The base plate has a notch portion at a position at least overlapping with a portion under the gap.

Abstract: A printing device includes a print blanket to transfer an ink image onto print media on an impression drum. Responsive to receiving a null cycle trigger during printing, the impression drum is repositioned to a null position to reduce contact between a print blanket and the impression drum.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit, a discharge unit, a double-sided conveyance path, a sheet plate, a skew correction unit, and a frame. The discharge unit discharges a sheet having an image from the image forming unit. The double-sided conveyance path conveys the sheet again to the image forming unit. The sheet plate restricts a position of an end, in a sheet width direction, of the sheet. The skew correction unit obliquely conveys the sheet to abut the sheet end. The frame determines a position of the sheet plate and includes a first positioning portion to position a sheet plate first positioned portion and a second positioning portion to position a sheet plate second positioned portion with the skew correction unit between the first and second positioned portion. The first positioning portion faces the first positioned portion and the second positioning portion faces the second positioned portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a mechanism configured to bring an intermediate transfer member into a first state contacting first and second drums and a second state separating from the first drum and contacting the second drum. The image forming apparatus is operable in a first mode of using the first and second drums in the first state, a second mode of using only the second drum in the second state, and a third mode of using only the second drum in the first state. If an image forming retry involving cleaning a transfer portion due to a recording medium conveyance delay in the third mode is to be performed, a controller changes over the third mode to the second mode without stopping rotation of the second drum to perform image formation on a recording medium fed by restart of a feeding operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet-fed printing press having a feeder, a delivery, and at least one sheet guiding cylinder, which is arranged between the feeder and the delivery, has a gripper system, and is assigned a digital printing system and a first sheet guiding system that removes sheets from the sheet guiding cylinder. The object of the invention is to devise a sheet-fed printing press that can be used in a more variable fashion, and with which a particularly wide spectrum of different products can be produced.

Abstract: The present teachings disclose various embodiments of a printing system for printing a substrate, in which the printing system can be housed in a gas enclosure, where the environment within the enclosure can be maintained as a controlled printing environment. A controlled environment of the present teachings can include control of the type of gas environment within the gas enclosure, the size and level particulate matter within the enclosure, control of the temperature within the enclosure and control of lighting. Various embodiments of a printing system of the present teachings can include a Y-axis motion system and a Z-axis moving plate that are configured to substantially decrease excess thermal load within the enclosure by, for example, eliminating or substantially minimizing the use of conventional electric motors.

Abstract: An image forming system includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium; a feeding unit on which the recording medium is placed and configured to convey the recording medium toward the image forming unit on a conveyance path; an insert unit on which an insert sheet is placed and configured to convey the insert sheet so as to insert the insert sheet between a plurality of recording mediums conveyed from the image forming unit; a storage unit configured to store information concerning feeding of the recording medium; and a control unit configured to control a feeding timing of the insert sheet by the insert unit based on the information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: Provided is a double-channel paper feeding mechanism and a sheet medium processing device. The double-channel paper feeding mechanism includes a fixed frame, a movable frame and a connection mechanism. The fixed frame is provided with a first channel plate and a second channel plate. A first portion of the first channel plate and a first portion of the second channel plate form a conveying channel. An opening for inserting the movable frame is formed between second portions of the two channel plates. The movable frame is provided with a third channel plate and a fourth channel plate. When the movable frame is mounted on the fixed frame, the second portion of the first channel plate and the third channel plate are arranged oppositely and form a first input channel in connection with the conveying channel, the second portion of the second channel plate and the fourth channel plate form a second input channel in connection with the conveying channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to using soft secondary plates and specialty inks in a printing process. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of using soft secondary plates made of a rubber comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene or a photopolymer material to decorate an exterior surface of cylindrical metallic containers with high definition graphics and other indicia.

Abstract: A paper feeding device includes a paper roll holder, a first roller that is rotated to convey paper drawn out from the paper roll, a bending portion having a curved inner guide and a curved outer guide between which the paper conveyed by the first roller is conveyed, a second roller that is disposed downstream of the bending portion in a conveying direction of the paper, and configured to be rotated to convey the paper conveyed from the bending portion and to idle when the paper conveyed from the bending portion applies a rotation force thereto, and a control unit configured to control rotation of the first roller so that the first roller conveys the paper at a target conveying speed.

Abstract: A media processing device includes: a platen roller configured to move a media unit along a media processing path to traverse a printhead adjacent to the platen roller; an upstream drive assembly including (i) an upstream stationary roller disposed along the media processing path on a first side of the platen roller; and (ii) an upstream movable roller adjacent to the upstream stationary roller; a downstream drive assembly including (i) a downstream stationary roller disposed along the media processing path on a second side of the platen roller; and (ii) a downstream movable roller adjacent to the downstream stationary roller; a controller configured to control a motor to move, according to a predefined sequence, the upstream movable roller and the movable roller between respective engaged and disengaged positions.